- Venue
- I-MYU Projects
- Location
- London
Yuko’s work conjures up mystery yet also delight, they seem memorable, as if they should be recognised. They are portrayed, presented like memories, not entirely clear, almost hazy, but still visible shapes and features are clearly all there. The expressive, semi-abstract mark making that she uses, are not without purpose, as much information of the portrait is retained.
The images often originate from newspapers or other media, so in a sense they are almost as a memory to start with, a found image taken out of its original context creating a faded memory of the original “person”. These real people are conjured into mystery becoming almost magical as they merge into shapes and brushstrokes. Changing from flesh to photographic images to ink to brushstrokes, changing their identity completely. She begins to change the origins of what a portrait actually is by deconstructing the face, but still leaving it recognisable with few features but aura still intact,
Some of the images are instantly recognisable, such as the Les Miserable poster; however, some are less recognisable but still familiar such as Boris Johnson, becoming more obvious when you no more about the person and then being able to see the reasons behind the strokes colours etc. As we almost recognise the images clues are presented by giving shape and colour to the emotions and personalities she is portraying, deliberate as it makes our brain conjure a greater picture of the figure to work out who it is as we think of their character as well as their image. This way of thinking conjures memories rather than pictures in one’s head as you begin to relate that image.
The almost wash like thickness and feel of the paint not only adds to this dreamlike imagery but also transcends racial and cultural boundaries of these people, making a series of images with different moods feelings emotions, almost asking the viewer to identify themselves in the images acting as a “detective” to find their self, to discover their identity within the pictures around.
The transitions that these images go through in their journey to becoming one of these paintings, makes me think, if a photo of myself was printed out then painted onto canvas etc, how does my identity within this image change if at all. The almost “found” imagery of the photo presented onto new surfaces in new media changes the context of me as a person in this image, questioning in my head the relevance of media in terms of communication as I begin to question the news etc which is changed further by provocative language etc building further stories.
This show is a wonderful showing of deep thought and ideas affecting the viewer’s perception not just of the work, but of aspects of life and the way one views art in general.